Edition 2024
Between Poetry and Surrealism
En 2024, nous célébrerons le centenaire du surréalisme, In 2024, we will celebrate the centenary of Surrealism, a movement which is deeply entrenched in the city’s memory. The history of Mons and its region is linked to surrealism through different rapidly-created artistic groups, such as “Rupture” in 1934, the “Groupe surréaliste du Hainaut” in 1939 and the “Surréalistes révolutionnaires” in 1947. Fernand Dumont, a renowned Mons surrealist, wrote touching styles of poetry about our beautiful City of Mons.
This marriage of surrealism and poetry forms the link between each work of art of the Mons festival. It was in this context that British artist, Robert Montgomery, was solicited to put forward forms of poetry that will give the event its tone and spirit. Through his urban poetry, he fully embodies what we were looking for: a contemporary platform of expression interspersing the route, infiltrating our outlook, creating emotion and inquiry throughout our stroll around the city.
Robert Montgomery
Contemporary British artist, Robert Montgomery, combines poetry and visual art to create pieces that have an evocative power, distorting advertising signs to use as vehicles of urban poetry. His innovative work explores the borderlines between concrete poetry and textual art, taking inspiration from Belgian surrealist poets like Paul Nougé, Paul Colinet, Fernand Dumont and Irène Hamoir.
On display in the collections of renowned museums, his pieces incorporate social and environmental themes, transmitting a poignant message through public art.
For Mons By Light, his illuminated and metallic installations take inspiration from architecture and surrealist poetry, transforming the streets of Mons into a poetic urban landscape, captivating the public through the fusion of light and words.
